Question 1

Who is Andrey Yakunin?

Accepted Answer

Andrey Yakunin is a British–Russian investor and entrepreneur with more than three decades of professional experience in international hospitality and real estate development. The portfolio of the properties Andrey worked with included: 
Courtyard by Marriott, Four Seasons, Hard Rock, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Meininger, Park Inn, Radisson Blu and Six Senses assets.

Andrey holds a joint MBA from London Business School and Columbia University, as well as a PhD in Finance and Credit from Saint Petersburg State University, where he also received his undergraduate degree. Alongside his business ventures, Andrey is an active sailor and skier. He regularly undertakes expeditions aboard his sailing vessel, FIREBIRD.

Question 2

What are Andrey Yakunin’s most transformative business projects?

Accepted Answer

Park Inn branded lettering appears on top of the iconic Pribaltiyskaya Hotel (2006) as Wenaasgruppen acquires the property from Andrey.
Four Seasons Lion Palace St. Petersburg (2013) opens its doors to the public after Andrey personally oversaw the 7-year renovation of the former mansion of Lobanov-Rostovsky into a leading European Hotel.
Holiday Inn Express Voronezh (2014) joins the brand's family of Andrey's Regional Hotel Chain with the signature opening of a 145-rooms hotel erected fully from prefabricated modules, a first room-out-of-the-box project in Russia.
The Radisson Blu Park Royal Palace Hotel (2019)is divested by Andrey after a rapid sell-out of the city's first branded apartments project at the property.
Six Senses Antognolla (2025) Resort and Residences is acquired by the founder of Emaar Properties and Eagle Hills, Mohamed Alabbar, from Andrey in a deal that saw a commitment of further EUR200M into developing this 500ha property stewarded by Andrey for over 5 years.

Question 3

How many citizenships does Andrey Yakunin have?

Accepted Answer

Andrey Yakunin holds British and Russian citizenship. Born in the Soviet Union in the city of Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), and has not lived in Russia or been a Russian tax resident since 2007. After graduating from London Business School, he moved to the UK and made London his base. Today, he divides his time between London, Varese, and sailing expeditions exploring the polar regions.

Question 4

How did Andrey Yakunin earn his wealth?

Accepted Answer

One of the key transformative projects in Andrey Yakunin's career in the hospitality industry began in 1999 with the re-development of the Pribaltiyskaya Hotel, a struggling property in Saint Petersburg, designed and built by Swedish Skanska, where he led the hotel's turnaround strategy, including the construction of an indoor water park to improve year-round performance. His first transaction - the sale of the property to the Norwegian investor Wenaasgruppen - provided the seed capital for Andrey's later investment activity. Over time, his team has developed more than 3,750 hotel rooms and have invested in various private growth-focused equity strategies.

Question 5

Is Andrey Yakunin under sanctions?

Accepted Answer

No. Andrey Yakunin is not, and has never been, subject to sanctions.

Question 6

Are Andrey Yakunin's business activities compliant with local and international regulations?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Andrey Yakunin's business activities involve cooperation with regulated international partners and required adherence to applicable legal and regulatory frameworks. These include KYC, AML and compliance requirements, in jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom, the European Union and Switzerland.

Question 7

Does Andrey Yakunin have any ties with politics?

Accepted Answer

Andrey Yakunin has never held any government position or public office. He has no personal or professional connection to any political leadership, regardless of the country.

Question 8

Is Andrey Yakunin a politically exposed person (PEP)?

Accepted Answer

No. Andrey Yakunin has never held any government position or public office and does not appear to fall within the definition of a PEP under standard AML/CTF frameworks. He is naturally related by family affiliation to his father, Vladimir Yakunin, who retired from his role as CEO and President of Russian Railways more than a decade ago.

Question 9

Is Vladimir Yakunin involved in Andrey Yakunin's business?

Accepted Answer

No. There are no business links between Vladimir Yakunin and Andrey Yakunin. Andrey's father has never owned, controlled or been a beneficiary of any commercial entity with which Andrey was / is associated. Allegations of this sort are likely the result of unverified information sourced from publicly available materials. Andrey's independence has been substantiated as part of a regulatory review in Luxembourg in connection with the registration of VIY Managers. Following the firm's attainment of AIFM status, its operations were subject to comprehensive regulatory scrutiny. The Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier, Luxembourg's primary public financial regulatory authority, conducted extensive due diligence on funding sources, investor profiles and related-party relationships. Throughout his carrier Andrey has also maintained partnerships with institutional stakeholders including leading hospitality brands whose compliance protocols include assessments of risks, including those potentially associated with Andrey's father's position. No material risks were identified through this process.

Question 10

What is Andrey Yakunin's position on Russia's invasion of Ukraine?

Accepted Answer

Andrey Yakunin publicly condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and has maintained this position ever since. He has stated that further loss of life in the prolonged conflict should be avoided. His position has been cited in multiple news outlets, including the following:Max Colchester, Jenny Strasburg and Nick Kostov. “As Russia Sanctions Intensify, Several Oligarchs Speak Out Against Ukraine War.” Wall Street Journal. 8 March 2022.Alexander Ward. “Tell us how the Ukraine war ends.” Politico. 1 March 2022.Broadcast on Italian television channel LA7. 8 March 2022

Question 11

Is Andrey Yakunin involved in sailing?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Andrey Yakunin is the owner of the sailing vessel FIREBIRD and regularly undertakes expeditions which are documented on social media, with more than 200,000 followers across different platforms. Andrey previously owned and raced the yacht Lady Mariposa R, winning several regattas, and he occasionally sails recreationally with his wife in the Adriatic and around Greece.

Question 12

What happened with Andrey Yakunin in Norway?

Accepted Answer

In October 2022, Andrey Yakunin was arrested in Norway in connection with drone footage he recorded during a voyage around Svalbard in the summer of 2022. He was subsequently acquitted of all charges, which had been brought solely on the basis of his Russian citizenship. The prosecution cited sanctions legislation intended to impede Russian military activities in connection with the war in Ukraine.The Norwegian courts found no connection between his use of personal drones for recreational and documentary purposes and the objectives of the sanctions’ regulations. He was acquitted of charges at all judicial levels, including by the District Court in December 2022 and the Supreme Court in June 2023, with the final resolution in April 2024. The courts later awarded Andrey compensation for his legal costs, citing the length of the proceedings.The case also highlighted ambiguity in the application of sanctions law when applied to dual nationals. Following this and other proceedings, changes were introduced in both EU and Norwegian legislation to address this ambiguity.

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